How to register a death

When someone dies in Tasmania the death must be registered with Births, Deaths and Marriages.  This is a requirement of the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registration Act 1999.

The details from the death registration are used to produce a death certificate.

Who needs to register a death

Usually, the funeral director registers the death, as their services include organising the disposal of the remains. If you are the next-of-kin or a relative of the deceased, you will need to supply the following information about the deceased to the funeral director:

  • Surname and first names
  • Gender
  • Date of death and date of birth
  • Place of death
  • Usual address of the deceased
  • Usual occupation during working life
  • Marriage or relationship particulars (place, age, full name of spouse or partner)
  • All children of the deceased (names and ages)
  • Full name of both parents (including mother's maiden name)

The attending doctor also needs to supply a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death, stating the cause of death. In some cases, such as car accidents, suspicious deaths or deaths at home, the Coroner provides information to Births, Deaths and Marriages instead of a doctor.

Funeral directors online death registration service

Funeral directors can lodge death registration details online if they are registered as a prescribed business with the Local Government Division, Department of Premier and Cabinet. All details are transferred directly to Births, Deaths and Marriages without the need to complete and lodge a hard copy form.

Funeral directors can also order and pay for a death certificate (for the deceased's next of kin) at the time of registering a death.

Register Death Online

If you would like to register for this service, please contact bdm@justice.tas.gov.au

You can get help using the online system from the instruction document below.  You will need Acrobat Reader on your computer to open the document.  To download a free copy of Acrobat Reader go to the following link Download Acrobat Reader

Available to Download: Keying Instructions for Funeral Directors Online (PDF, 64.9 KB)

Information for doctors - Medical Certificates of Cause of Death

When someone dies, a doctor must lodge a Medical Certificate of Cause of Death  (MCCD) within 48 hours, unless the death is being referred to the Coroner.

The doctor must have been responsible for the deceased's medical care immediately before death, or have examined the body of the deceased after death.

The certificate must:

  • provide sufficient detail and all sections must be complete
  • be legible, with the doctor's name, address and contact details
  • show the cause of death - including the duration
  • include any antecedent causes of contributing conditions - including the duration.

Further details about providing cause of death certification can be found in the Australian Bureau of Statistics guidelines.

A copy of the certificate must also be given to the funeral director or other person who will be arranging for the disposal of the human remains.

Please contact us if you need to order MCCD forms.

Submitting Medical Certificates of Cause of Death to BDM

Completed forms can be sent in the mail or scanned and securely uploaded to BDM.  Please note, a photo of the MCCD is not acceptable.

If you are a medical practitioner and would like to upload MCCDs using the online portal you will need to register for an account and provide:

  • Your full name
  • AHPRA registration number
  • Organisation/Practice name
  • Email address
  • Address

We will review your request and confirm your access to the online portal by email.

Upload Medical Certificate

Last updated: 6 March 2024